The Need for Concentrate
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight I want to speak for a few minutes about the need for concentrate.
Concentrate (def) Compression into a narrow space; to make less dilute; to direct or draw toward a common center (focus)
Let’s examine and illustrate each one of these:
“Compression into a narrow space”
A battlefield commander might say “Our right flank is waning - Concentrate forces on the right flank!”
So what he is saying, is that they need to compress as much people as they can in that space so that it isn’t vulnerable.
“To make less dilute”
Anyone ever seen the Donald Duck ‘Orange Juice from Concentrate?’ It’s where they take the juice (water) part away and what you have left is a solid concentrate of rest.
One other I thought of is my daddy’s sweet tea. Now if you like sweet tea, or you’re from the south, you’d love my daddy’s tea. However, I have gotten to the point to where it’s too sweet for me. It tastes like tea from concentrate!
“To Direct or Draw toward a common Center”
This simply means to ‘focus’.
If anyone has seen The Empire Strikes Back, you might remember Yoda telling Luke to ‘Concentrate’.
So what does this have to do with us, preacher? I’m glad you asked!
The Title of the message today is ‘The Need for Concentrate’. The truth is, we need Concentrate Christians in the church today!
Remember:
“Compression into a Narrow Space”
I don’t know if you can tell, but when you look at our country, America is vulnerable today! We need Christians filling in the gaps that have been left upon too long upon the flanks!
“To make less dilute”
What we are finding in the church today is that the contemporary church is watered down. The message is watered down, the music is watered down… The church is less effective in our country, NOT BECAUSE GOD IS LESS EFFECTIVE, but because Christians are content with being watered down!
“To Direct or Draw to a Common Center”
Christians, we need a renewed focus. We need to Concentrate on the things of God instead of having them in our peripheral vision. The reason our country, our homes, our health is in disarray is because we’ve lost focus on the things that matter!
Three things that we need less diluted, Compressed into our lives, our schedules & time, and draw our attention to (focused on).
The first is that we Need a Concentration of the Spirit
I. Concentration of the Spirit
I. Concentration of the Spirit
Many times we
We must Forsake the Flesh to be Filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
In this passage, we see two fillings - one of the flesh, and the other of the Spirit.
One thing to notice is the ‘but’. In other words, it’s either or - and can’t be both.
(Ill.) If I have a glass in front of me, and in separate containers I have water and I have pop. One is tasty, and the other is good for you. I can either have one or the other in the glass - it can either be filled with the water or the pop. Someone might say ‘Well, you could put some water and some pop in it’ - which you’d be correct. However two things: 1. You wouldn’t be filled with either. Secondly, it wouldn’t be good. Whether you’re a pop or water drinker - neither would be satisfied!
Jesus said to the church at Laodicea: Revelation 3:15–16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The mixture is gross, and not fit to consume!
Too many Christians are trying to be water and pop - and you can’t be that way to any satisfaction for anyone!
We must Forsake the Flesh to be Filled with the Spirit
Fasting will Encourage the Work the Spirit
Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
This is a doctrine that is little spoken of today. Most do not practice it as if it’s not for us today - however, that is simply not the case. People don’t practice it because it’s hard! It’s hard putting the flesh into subjection!
But the truth is, when you really want the Spirit to move, don’t neglect fasting!
Continue reading: (Act. 13:3-4) Of course, you know the rest - Paul would go on to do great things for the Cause of Christ! All because he was led by the Spirit and gave himself to fasting and prayer!
Fasting will Encourage the Work of the Spirit
It’ll Help you Focus on Others
Acts 8:29 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”
In this passage of Scripture (I referenced it this morning), there’s an Ethiopian Eunuch who needed Jesus. He desired to know what the Scriptures meant - and the Spirit led Phillip to him.
When we are led by the Spirit, it will naturally lead us to others.
Guess what church, your life is not about you - it’s about others.
We see this interaction in Scripture: Matthew 22:36–40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
A Concentration of the Spirit will Help you Focus on Others.
Following the Spirit Gives us Strength to Endure
Matthew 4:1–2 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”
Many times we fail in various aspects of life because we’re trying to do in the flesh what can only be done in the Spirit.
In our text, Jesus is led into the Wilderness, and as He fasted (see that again) 40 days & nights, he was tempted. LIKE NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN TEMPTED IN THE HISTORY OF MAN!
But because He was Spirit Led, Spiritually Nourished, He had the Strength to Endure such awful Temptations.
We see the Concentration of the Spirit - We need it less diluted, Compressed into our lives, and drawing our attention to (focused on).
Secondly, we need a Concentration in the Word
II. Concentration in the Word
II. Concentration in the Word
It Requires a Choice
Church, do you know why most Christians don’t read their Bible like they should? Because they choose not to. Simple as that.
We’ll read:
Facebook - and the drama on it
The News
Internet articles that interest us
But how much are we reading the Bible?
I don’t think that we realize what we have here!
It’s Living
It’s Powerful
It’s Life-giving
It’s Hope-giving
It’s Instructional
It’s Universal
It’s Needful
It’s Nourishing
It’s Unlike Anything Else!
It is all these things - and MORE! However, it won’t do much for you unless you GET IN IT!
In order to be Concentrate in the Word, it’s a Choice
It Demonstrates a Commitment
2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
If we’re Committed to God, then we will Concentrate on His Word!
(Ill.) How many of you have heard ‘Well, God knows my heart… God knows __________’.
God knew Abraham’s heart, but He still expected him to go and Sacrifice his son.
God knew Noah’s heart, but He still expected him to build the Ark.
God knew Job’s heart, but He still expected him to endure the trials.
What I’m saying is, you can SAY whatever you want, but God expects a DEMONSTRATION of your DEVOTION. Because WHATEVER is in HERE will come out OUT HERE. And if it doesn’t come out, then it’s not really in - despite what you claim!
James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
James 3:11–12 “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
Concentrate in the Word of God Demonstrates Commitment unto God and a Care for what He has to Say!
It Gives Comfort
Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
As we examine the Scriptures, it can bring us comfort.
When we Sin:
I think of David and how he sinned greatly against God - yet God forgave him! It encourages me in that when I do fall short, God doesn’t cast me out, but cares for me & brings me to a place of repentance to where I can get back in right fellowship with Him.
Concerning trials:
When I read: Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It gives me comfort knowing that I don’t need to walk the trials alone!
Concerning Jesus Coming Again:
John 14:1–3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Jesus is coming back! He’s preparing a mansion for me! No matter what happens in this world, I have comfort knowing that!
The more I know about the Scriptures, the more I’m Concentrated on them & they are Concentrate in me, the more Comfort I have in this life!
It gives Comfort
It Leads to Christ
John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Here, Jesus is in the middle of a great dissertation unto the Jews that wanted to kill Him. And in the midst of it, He says this: Search the Scriptures! That’s where you’ll find me!
As I mentioned this morning, Jesus is referring to the OT, and He says - “They all point to me!” and they do!
You may say ‘Well, I already know Jesus - and praise God for that! Yet, if you Concentrate on the Scriptures, you’ll be able to use them to lead others to Jesus!
It Leads to Christ
We see the Concentration of the Spirit & of the Word - We need it less diluted, Compressed into our lives, and drawing our attention to (focused on).
A Concentration of the Spirit, a Concentration in the Word
III. Concentrated Upon Service
III. Concentrated Upon Service
It is our Purpose
God did not put you on this earth to be:
Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Factory Worker, Homemaker, Pastor, Preacher, etc… God put us on this earth to Serve Him! How we do that may vary from person to person, but to honor & serve God is the purpose we have life!
We Must be Concentrated Upon Service
It is Pleasurable
Church, there’s nowhere better to be than to be in the center of God’s Will serving the LORD.
Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Many often live restless lives. They know little peace because they have little purpose! Listen, it’s a thing of pleasure to serve the LORD!
Once you get over the awkwardness of doing so, there’s nothing better!
It’s Pleasurable
It Pleases the LORD
When we serve the LORD, it pleases God!
1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams.”
If you want to please the LORD - obey Him! We can’t forget the Commission which He gave before He ascended: Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
It Pleases the LORD
It Preserves Souls
God uses people to reach people - He desires to use us. If we will Concentrate on Serving the LORD, we’ll be blessed with leading souls from the destruction that awaits unto the Salvation of the LORD!
It preserves Souls
Conclusion
Conclusion
We need the Concentration of the Spirit & of the Word & of Service - We need these less diluted. We need them Compressed into our lives, and our attention drawn to (focused on). Will you pray and ask God to help you be a Concentrate Christian?